Bigger role urged for women farmers

WOMEN farmers should have a bigger part in shaping the future of rural areas, it was claimed yesterday.

Karen Serres, president of the women’s committee in COPA, the umbrella body for farmer organisations in the EU, said women farmers know the problems and opportunities of rural areas inside out.

“Yet, so far their voice is not being heard. We must change this,” she said in a statement marking World Rural Women’s Day tomorrow. Ms Serres said without the work of women, food production in Europe would grind to a halt.

“Women farmers in Europe, who represent 40% of the labour force, also make an enormous contribution to developing economic prosperity and employment in rural areas.

“Yet when it comes to key decisions about agricultural and rural policy and legislation, women still have very little influence,” she said.

Ms Serres called upon all women farmers to realise the contribution they can make in shaping the future of rural areas and to grasp the opportunities available.

“But I also want the authorities to do more. Too often the response of politicians to women’s demands for equal representation is to set up a Women’s Committee to deal with specific issues thought to be of interest to women.

“This is a first small step in giving women a voice. But, when it comes to the big decisions — formulating policy and legislation on agriculture and rural matters — it is still very much men who are in charge.”